Vaping among youth

KARACHI: Teenagers have become the primary target audience and victims of marketing within the vaping industry. The physiological consequences of adolescent vaping are particularly concerning, as a person's brain continues developing until approximately age 25. High doses of nicotine delivered by these sleek devices alter neural pathways, leading to heightened addiction, cognitive disruptions and severe mental health challenges. Furthermore, inhaling aerosolised chemical compounds exposes young users to toxic substances, causing acute respiratory distress and acting as a gateway toward broader chemical dependency. Addressing this crisis requires coordinated action from parents, educational institutions and public policy makers to eliminate the normalisation of these electronic devices. Decisive regulations, strict age-verification enforcement, public health campaigns and accessible community grievance portals are necessary to protect young people from long-term harm. Zainab Abubakar Turbat